Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated from Councillor McAlpine and Douglas Mackie.

None declared.

Social Affairs Policy and Performance Group 7 December 2009

The Minutes of the Social Affairs Policy and Performance Group meeting held on 7 December 2009 were approved as a correct record.

Report by Director of Community Services

A report outlining the current range of activity in relation to opportunities for young people with particular reference to looked after and accommodated children and children affected by disability was considered.

Decision

1.             Noted the contents of the report and agreed to consider this information as part of the work plan of the PPG; and

2.             Noted Members’ concern regarding the proposed budget cuts to the voluntary sector and what the implications would be for children affected by disability.

(Reference: Report by Director of Community Services, submitted)

Report by Director of Community Services

A report outlining the current range of activity in relation to services for clients with learning disabilities was considered

Government policy on Learning Disability direct Social Work to provide person centred services which emphasise the use of available community resources rather than via the traditional Resource Centre model.  Significant progress has been made in Helensburgh and Lomond, Bute and Cowal and in part Oban.  However, services across Argyll and Bute require further re-design and modernisation to provide the person centred approach required.

The Project Board overseeing the re-design of Older Person’s Services also provides the governance framework for the re-design of Learning Disability services.  The Project Board has approved the methodology for options appraisal, the initial consultation events and additional carer/service user representation on the Project Board are recommended by the Project Team.

Decision

1.             Noted the contents of the report and agreed to consider this information as part of the work plan of the PPG;

2.             Noted that the specific work undertaken by the PPG would not duplicate the work of the Older People’s Services Project Board;

3.             Noted Members’ concern regarding the proposed budget cuts to the voluntary sector and what the implications would be for clients with learning disabilities; and

4.             Noted that the Chair of the PPG would arrange to meet with the Director Community Services, the Head of Children and Families and the Head of Adult Service with a view to discussing alternative areas to make savings within Community Services which would not have a direct impact on the areas of priority for the PPG prior to this being given consideration by the Council on 11 February 2010.

(Reference: report by Director of Community Services dated 21 January 2010, submitted)

Report by Director of Community Services

A report outlining the current range of activity in relation to Older People’s services was considered.

Government policy for Older People’s services directs Social Work to provide person centred services at home where possible, safe and sustainable as an alternative to traditional forms of NHS Continuing Care and Residential and Nursing Care home beds funded by local authorities. 

This policy and future re-design of services will progress in the context of a “population boom” where the number of older people age 75 and over will increase by 84% in the period 2008-2033.  This agenda has been developed via a combination of two governance frameworks the detail of which is contained in a report before the PPG for consideration.

Decision

1.             Noted the contents of the report and agreed to consider this information as part of the work plan of the PPG; and

2.             Noted that the specific work undertaken by the PPG would not duplicate the work of the Older People’s Services Project Board.

(Reference: Report by Director of Community Services dated 21 January 2010, submitted)

Report by Area Corporate Services Manager

A report detailing progress with the development of the Social Affairs Policy and Performance Group Scorecard was considered.

Decision

1.             Agreed that the information contained within the  Social Affairs PPG Scorecard would be as follows:-

Clients with Learning Difficulties

·         Number of unallocated cases

·         Number of assessments outstanding over 28 days

·         Number of service users with a Person Centres Plan

·         % of Learning Disability service users with a care plan reviewed witin 6 months

·         % of service users attending resource centres

Older People’s Services

·         Number of unallocated cases

·         Number of assessments outstanding over 28 days

·         Number of delayed discharges waiting over 6 weeks in NHS bed

·         % of Older People receiving care in the community

·         Number of people awaiting Free Personal Care in their homes

Looked After Children and Children Affected by Disability

·         Total no of Local After and Accommodated Children (LAAC)

·         Total no of Foster Carers

·         % of LAAC Cared for by a Foster Carer

·         No of Children in Residential Care

·         No of External LAAC

·         Not of LAAC Placed External due to Disability

·         % Children Affected by Disability receiving Community Based Support

·         % Children Affected by Disability with Transition Plan

·         No of children received Community Based Support

2.             Agreed that at the next meeting in May 2010 the PPG would monitor performance of each of these measures as at 31 March 2010.

(Reference: Report by Area Corporate Services Manager dated 22 January 2010, submitted)